Tag Archives: harry potter and the cursed child

Welcome to this week’s installment of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This week, Harry and Albus share a heartbreaking moment and Harry has a terrifying dream that may have much bigger consequences.

Scene 7 – Harry & Ginny Potter’s House, Albus’s Room

We’ve seen in previous scenes how isolated Albus has become, especially in regards to his own family. This scene begins with what appears to be the Potters getting ready to head off for Albus’s fourth year at Hogwarts. There is a great deal of commotion, but Albus stays tucked in his room, ignoring it all. James is bellowing across the hall (his hair has turned pink?), Lily is trying to convince her mother to let her take fairy wings to school (“They’re fluttery!”), Ginny is trying her darnedest to get rooms cleaned and trunks packed. Harry stops in Albus’s room.

You can tell that Harry is struggling with something and he eventually pulls out his gift to Albus for the year – and it’s one of the most heart wrenching things I think I’ve ever seen.

ALBUS: An old blanket?

HARRY: I thought a lot about what to give you this year. James – well, James has been going on about the Invisibility Cloak since time itself, and Lily – I knew she’d love wings – but you. You’re fourteen years old now, Albus, and I wanted to give you something which – meant something. This . . . is the last thing I had from my mum. The only thing. I was given to the Dursleys wrapped in it. I thought it had gone forever and then, when your great-aunt Petunia died, hidden amongst her possessions, surprisingly, Dudley found this and he kindly sent it on to me, and ever since then – well, anytime I’ve wanted luck I’ve found it and just tried to hold it and I wondered if you . . .

The blanket. The blanket from the beginning of Sorcerer’s Stone that Baby Harry was wrapped in when Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid left him on the Dursleys’ doorstep all those years ago. The only thing left of the parents that had loved him, that had gone with him that horrible night.

I can’t believe they kept it. It doesn’t seem in character for them at all. Harry speculates that Petunia must have wanted him to have it, even after everything that happened. Also, I guess we now know that Petunia is no longer living, although Dudley is (which would make sense, since he’s Harry’s age). No word on Vernon yet.

Albus, being 14 and a bit of a prat, doesn’t see this gift as meaningfully as Harry does. Harry mentions that he would like to be with Albus, holding the blanket on Halloween night, the night his parents died, to honor them. He believes that his mother would have wanted Albus to have the blanket. Instead, Albus sees this as another affront. James got a cool gift, Lily got a cool gift, and all he got was a blanket. He tries to brush Harry off, but Harry is really trying to reach out and connect with his son. He instead offers to help pack because he always loved packing for Hogwarts.

ALBUS: For you, it’s the greatest place on earth. I know. The poor orphan, bullied by his uncle and aunt Dursley . . .

Clearly Harry Potter’s origin story isn’t as exciting when you’re his kid. Or when you’ve heard it a million times.

Harry is trying to keep his temper, he really is, but Albus knows just how to get under his skin. Albus taunts him, making light of this gift, and finally it’s too much.

HARRY: (finally losing his temper): You know what? I’m done with being made responsible for your unhappiness. At least you’ve got a dad. Because I didn’t, okay?

ALBUS: And you think that was unlucky? I don’t.

HARRY: You wish me dead?

ALBUS: No! I just wish you weren’t my dad.

HARRY (seeing red): Well, there are times I wish you weren’t my son.

Oh no. Oh no no no no. I understand this. I really do. As a parent, there are times when my daughter says or does something that puts me just to the limits of what I can tolerate. But you can’t do that. You have to be the bigger person in this case. You can’t say things like this to your kids, even if you mean it at the time. That kind of thing will stick with a child forever, even if they pretend like it’s nothing.

Which is what Albus does. He says he doesn’t blame his dad for feeling that way and asks that he leave, throwing the blanket after him. Harry realizes what a terrible mistake he’s made, but once words are said, they can’t be unsaid. I feel sorry for both of them.

Scene 8 – Dream, Hut-on-the-Rock

I’m assuming this is Harry’s dream, since no one in his family would know about the Hut on the Rock. It’s the scene from Sorcerer’s Stone when Hagrid comes to give him his Hogwarts letter. Hagrid is banging on the door. Dudley, Petunia and Vernon are all cowering in the corner. Vernon has his rifle. There is one part that I don’t remember in the original book.

AUNT PETUNIA: We’re cursed! He’s cursed us! The boy has cursed us! (Seeing YOUNG HARRY) This is all your fault. Get back in your hole.

I don’t remember Petunia ever saying anything about Harry being a curse, although maybe she thought it a few times.

Hagrid breaks through the door and the scene goes mostly like we expect. Vernon tries to be menacing with the rifle (and fails miserably). Hagrid ties the barrel of the gun into a bow. He also sees Harry, tells him he looks like his parents, and wishes him a happy birthday, giving him his cake. Hagrid starts telling Harry about Hogwarts, taking offense at the fact that the Dursleys had never told him about it. As I said, it all goes as planned until we get to the famous “Harry – yer a wizard” line. Then this happens.

And then, right from the back of the room, whispering around everyone.

Words said with an unmistakable voice. The voice of VOLDEMORT. . .

Haaarry Pottttter

It’s been over twenty years and Harry is still haunted by this. I guess I had hoped, after reading the Deathly Hallows epilogue, that Harry had put all that behind him, but I guess he hasn’t. Being upset from the Albus situation probably doesn’t help either.

Scene 9 – Harry & Ginny Potter’s House, Bedroom

Harry jerks awake and we get the idea that this was more than just a nightmare. His forehead hurts him and he can see Dark Magic swirling around the room. Ginny wakes up, but Harry tells her to go back to sleep. She doesn’t listen and tries to talk to him about it. He grudgingly tells her that it was a dream about the Dursleys, but that it turned into something else.

Ginny is a good wife. I really love their relationship. She is supportive, even though she knows that he behaved badly, both with Albus and with Amos Diggory.

GINNY:Because I know that when the time is right you’ll say sorry. That you didn’t mean it. That what you said concealed . . . other things. You can be honest with him, Harry . . . That’s all he needs.

HARRY: I wish he was more like James or Lily.

GINNY (dry): Yeah, maybe don’t be that honest.

Harry clarifies it, saying that it’s not that he wants Albus to change, he just wishes he could understand him.

I know the feeling. Actually, my issues are usually that when my daughter is behaving badly, I understand her exactly. She is so much like me, it’s scary. Seriously scary.

Ginny tells Harry that he needs to be honest with Albus, that Albus knows when Harry is putting on a front and doesn’t want to deal with that.

HARRY: “The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”

GINNY looks at him, surprised.

Dumbledore.

GINNY: A strange thing to say to a child.

HARRY: Not when you believe that child will have to die to save the world.

It’s times like this that I really hate Dumbledore. The way that he played Harry . . . I know he had his reasons, and those reasons were to save the world, but still. Harry was a child. What did I say earlier about adults knowing better and should behave better than children? Really, it’s amazing that Harry is as well-adjusted as he is. I don’t know how he made it.

Harry tries to pretend that his forehead isn’t still in intense pain, but Ginny isn’t buying it. Harry brushes it off and says they should go back to sleep. Ginny asks how long it’s been since his scar hurt. Twenty-two years. That’s how long.

Hiya folks! It’s time for my next installment of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Chapter-A-Long read! I really enjoyed doing this last time and hope you enjoyed it as well. I’m moving these posts to Mondays because schedule-wise, that’s easier for me.

This week, we are taking a look at Act 1, Scenes 4 through 6. Let’s jump in!

Scene 4 – Transition Scene

The stage direction of at the beginning of this scene states that “there are no individual scenes, but fragments, shards that show the constant progression of time.” From reading it, I really wish I could have seen how they staged this, especially as someone who has done a bit of theater. It must have been fascinating to design.

First up: Albus’s arrival at Hogwarts, and the hubbub it creates. Everyone is excited to see him and everyone has something to say.

POLLY CHAPMAN: Albus Potter.

KARL JENKINS: A Potter. In our year.

YANN FREDERICKS: He’s got his hair. He’s got hair just like him.

Imagine starting your first year at a new school and having everyone talking about you. Even if they weren’t saying anything bad, it still has to be a lot of pressure!

Moving on to the Sorting. Rose gets sorted into Gryffindor, which she is very happy about. Scorpious gets sorted into Slytherin, which everyone was expecting. And Albus, well . . . he has to face his worst fear as he is also sorted into Slytherin. Everyone is shocked and dismayed, especially Rose. Everyone except for Scorpious, who seems delighted to have a friend. Albus himself seems to have no reaction at all, except for the stage direction that says he is “thoroughly discombobulated.”

By the way, I love the word “discombobulated.” It’s awesome. But I digress. Next scene.

And suddenly a flying lesson is happening with MADAM HOOCH.

I have to admit, Madam Hooch is one of my favorite minor characters from the original books. I don’t know why, but I’ve always wanted to know more about her. Did she ever play professional Quidditch before retiring to teach? Why does she have yellow eyes like a cat? Is it significant that she is described like a hawk? I want to know these things!

But anyway, the flying lesson is a disaster for Albus, as he is the only one in class to have trouble getting their broom to fly up to their hands. Now the rumor is circulating that not only is Albus a Slytherin, but he’s a Squib as well.

(For any muggles reading this, a Squib is a person born of a magical family who does not have any magical abilities. Notable Squibs in the Harry Potter-verse include Argus Filtch, the dreaded caretaker of Hogwarts. Hmmm. Wonder if he’s still around anywhere?).

The scene segues again into what I thought was a dream sequence, but is actually where Albus arrives at King’s Cross before his second year. Albus is afraid that everyone is saying something about how disappointing he is as a Potter, although Harry is quick to tell him that none of that matters.

HARRY: Look, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me.

I really find it awesome that Harry is such a good dad, considering the fact that he grew up with the worst of examples in the Dursleys. Of course, he also had a lot of influence by the Weasleys, so I guess it evens out. Plus, anyone with half a brain should know not to lock their kids in a cupboard under the stairs.

There is also a weird exchange with Draco Malfoy. He approaches Harry asking for help because the rumors surrounding Scorpious aren’t going away. Harry doesn’t feel the need to do anything about this.

HARRY: If you answer the gossip, you feed the gossip. There’ve been rumors Voldemort had a child for years, Scorpious is not the first to be accused. The Ministry, for your sake as well as ours, needs to steer well clear.

It does make me wonder who else may have been accused of being Voldemort’s child. I imagine there couldn’t be that long of a list (really, who would have gotten THAT close to him??? – don’t want to know . . .)

Also mentioned is the fact that Astoria is sick.

Next scene is in the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall is announcing that Rose has made the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Scorpious claps along with Albus, and when questioned, he just shrugs and says that he’s doing it because she’s Albus’s cousin. He also thinks that she’s brilliant, so maybe someone has a little crush? Maybe?

Side note: Minerva McGonagall is life. I adore her more than most things.

Next scene is in potions class, where Albus and Scorpious are partners. The other students avoid them and make snide remarks. Things aren’t going well in potions though – their potion explodes! Hey, something of Harry that Albus inherited!

Next up: third year. We’re moving along at a good clip! It’s King’s Cross again, where Harry is handing Albus his permission slip to go to Hogsmeade. Albus is not interested, even going so far to light the permission slip on fire with a surprisingly good Incendio spell. Harry tells him of his concerns, that Professor McGonagall had been sending owls. Albus responds in a proper thirteen year-old way.

ALBUS: So what would you like me to do? Magic myself popular? Conjure myself into a new House? Transfigure myself into a better student? Just cast a spell, Dad, and change me into what you want me to be, okay? It’ll work better for both of us.

Yikes. What a change from the soft, sensitive kid who got on the train two years earlier! Even though he’s kind of being a brat, I feel really bad for Albus. He’s had a rough, rough time of it, and I’m watching right now with my own kid how bullying at school can completely change a person. It’s really, really sad, especially since Albus is isolating himself from his family.

He still has Scorpious though, but Scorpious has his own issues to deal with. When Albus finds him on the train, Scorpious tells him that his mother has died. Albus doesn’t know what to do or say. Scorpious is quick to tell him that he doesn’t need much.

SCORPIOUS: Come to the funeral.

ALBUS: Of course.

SCORPIOUS: And be my good friend.

The last little bit of this very long, very complicated scene is the Sorting for this year. And guess what – it’s Lilly’s first year at Hogwarts. She is sorted into Gryffindor and Albus is, well . . . I’m not sure how he feels about it.

So in two years, Albus has become completely different that anyone else in his family. Rebellious, in trouble with the school, with an attitude that will not quit. In fact, it feels like he is rejecting his family, even though it is clear from Harry’s responses that his family is not pushing him away. Some of that could seem like typical early-teen behavior, but this is Hogwarts, and nothing is that simple.

Scene 5 – Ministry of Magic, Harry’s Office

Yes! I’ve always wanted to know what Harry & Co. did after Book 7! It appears that Harry is indeed an Auror working at the Ministry. Harry arrives, bleeding, to find Hermione going through stacks of papers.

HERMIONE: How did it go?

HARRY: It was true.

HERMIONE: Theodore Nott?

HARRY: In custody.

I remember the name Theodore Nott from the original books, but don’t know anything about him other than the fact that he was a Slytherin student who was there during the same time Harry & Co. was. Turns out Nott had a Time-Turner. This is illegal, as all Time-Turners were destroyed, but even before that they were kept under lock and key at the Department of Mysteries. Back in Prisoner of Azkaban, it was very, very, VERY rare that Hermione was given permission to use one – a really big deal. It does make one wonder what Nott was doing with one in the first place.

Harry asks Hermione what she’s doing there, and she responds that she is checking to see if he is keeping up with his paperwork. Of course, he is not. This seems to be a reoccurring discussion with the two of them.

HERMIONE: You know, there’s some interesting stuff in here . . . There are mountain trolls riding Graphorns through Hungary, there are giants with winged tattoos on their backs walking through the Greek Seas, and the werewolves have gone entirely underground –

Okay, here’s what I want. You know all those cop procedural shows on TV? Criminal Minds, CSI, Law & Order, etc? I want one of those, but featuring the Auror department. Can we do that? How awesome would that be!!

Harry gets irritated that Hermione is getting on his case about paperwork, when he is the one going out in the field and getting results. He doesn’t need to read anything – he hears about things going on while he’s working. That’s how he found out about Nott in the first place. Hermione offers him a piece of candy and tells him that she’s not upset, and doesn’t mean to come off that way.

HERMIONE: I just need you to look at your paperwork every now and again, that’s all. Consider this a gentle – nudge – from the Minister for Magic.

Wait a sec.

Does that mean what I think it does?

HERMIONE IS THE MINISTER FOR MAGIC??!!??

Okay, that’s brilliant. Who else would be better! Heck, she was better for the job than Fudge was back when she was sixteen! This is awesome!

Hermione asks after his family, but Harry is clearly worried. He doesn’t know what to do about Albus. Despite getting on Harry’s case for not getting his work done, Hermione urges him to go home and spend time with his family.

Scene 6 – Harry and Ginny Potter’s House

This scene opens with Albus sitting at the top of the stairs listening in on a conversation below. Harry has just gotten home, but has a surprise visitor – Amos Diggory. This is Cedric Diggory’s father, for anyone who didn’t remember. He is very old at this point and is in a wheelchair. He seems very frustrated because he has been trying to get an appointment to speak to Harry and keeps getting that appointment rescheduled.

Harry is very put-off by the fact that Diggory just showed up in the middle of the night when he’s supposed to be dealing with family matters. Personally, I agree. He should be allowed to leave his work at the office. I don’t know what Diggory wants, but these seems like it’s crossing a line.

Oh, and Harry isn’t just an Auror. He’s the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. So he’s THE Auror.

AMOS: Voldemort wanted you! Not my son! You told me yourself, the words he said were, “Kill the spare.” The spare. My son, my beautiful son, was a spare.

Oh oh oh. Oh no. You don’t blame Harry for that. Cedric’s death was an awful, awful thing, but Harry certainly didn’t want it to happen. He had nothing to do with it. Cedric was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and sure, if Harry hadn’t been involved Cedric would probably still be alive (or not – he could have died at any point, it’s not like Voldemort was picky), but you can’t blame Harry for Cedric’s death. He didn’t kill him!

Amos’s grief goes even deeper than that though. He has heard about the Time-Turner the Ministry has confiscated. He wants to use it to go get Cedric back.

That is one of the most depressing things I’ve ever heard.

Harry is quick to tell him that the story about Nott and the Time-Turner is not true, that all the Time-Turners were destroyed and they haven’t found any others. At this point, we switch our attention back to Albus and his eavesdropping because he suddenly gets a visitor.

ALBUS jumps a mile as DELPHI – a twenty-something, determined-looking woman – is revealed, looking through the stairs at him.

This is Delphi Diggory, Amos’s niece. Albus is quite taken aback and Delphi jokes that she’s there to steal everything he has (especially the Chocolate Frogs!) She asks who he is and, unlike most everyone at Hogwarts, seems genuinely pleased when she finds out that he is Albus Potter. She asks if it’s awesome to have the famous Harry Potter for a dad, but at Albus’s unenthusiastic answer, she realizes that she has made things uncomfortable.

DELPHI: Ah. Have I just put my foot in it? It’s what they used to say about me at school. Delphi Diggory – there isn’t a hole she couldn’t dig herself into.

Okay, I already love Delphi, and I just met her. Albus seems to like her as well, or at least, sees her as something of a kindred spirit. He mentions that people make fun of his name too. Delphi mentions that she takes care of her uncle at St. Oswald’s Home for Old Witches and Wizards and invites Albus to come visit. He doesn’t have a chance to respond before Amos yells for her to come down so they can leave.

AMOS: Meet the once-great Harry Potter, now a stone-cold Ministry man. I will leave you in peace, sir. If peace I the right word for it.

I think there are many things that Harry has had to deal with that he has not, and may never, make peace with. Cedric’s death has to be one of them. I feel sorry for Amos – losing a child must be the most terrible thing in the world. I can’t imagine the pain that he feels. But this is a low blow, and you can tell that it hurts Harry a great deal. Albus watches all this “thoughtfully.” Maybe he’s starting to realize that being the famous Harry Potter is not always such a good thing. It will probably take a while for that fact to get through all his teenage angst, but maybe it’s a start.

Next review will cover scenes 7 through 13. Seems like a lot, but they are fairly short. See you then!

Oh my gosh, you guys, I am so excited about this! I’ve been wanting to read this play ever since it came out in book form. There’s no way that I would be able to get to London to see it in person, so this is the best that I have.

Here’s what I know about the production:

There was some sort of controversy because they cast a Black actress as Hermione.

Here’s what I know about the story:

It has something to do with the kids of the original kids from the books.

That’s really all I know. I have been strangely unspoiled for this story. I know next to nothing about it. Which is exciting! I know it won’t match the feeling of getting the original books back in the day, but it’s still pretty cool.

Also, just briefly, because I feel obligated to do so: SPOILER WARNING! I will be going in depth about what happens in the play, but also discussing how they relate to the books. The last Harry Potter book was published 10 years ago, so if you’re spoiled by my reviews, well, you should have read them before now. So there.

I can already tell that this is going to be a very different experience, just because of the format. I’m used to reading scripts, both from being in community theater productions and from studying Shakespeare and other playwrights in college, but having those scripts being part of a Harry Potter story . . . it’s a bit odd, I won’t lie. It means that I had to plan out how to do this, since I can’t rely on doing a chapter at a time – there are no chapters! So let’s jump in.

Scene 1 – King’s Cross

The first scene is only two pages long, so it’s a good thing I’m not doing a review for each scene. That would take forever! Still, this scene is sweet. It takes place just before the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We see Harry Potter, his wife Ginny (Weasley, of course), and their kids: James (the oldest), Albus (age 11, headed for his first year at Hogwarts), and Lilly (the youngest, riding on Harry’s shoulders). I’m not sure how old the other two kids are. It doesn’t say, although it does mention that Harry is 37 at this point.

The two brothers are behaving just how brothers do. James is ribbing Albus about the possibility of getting sorted into Slytherin (I’m assuming at this point that James is another Potter Gryffindor). They are at Kings Cross station, heading to the brick wall that will lead them to Platform 9 3/4.

There’s a cute moment where Albus asks his parents to write to him, but not TOO much because according to James (who naturally knows everything), he should only expect letters from home once a month.

HARRY: We wrote to your brother three times a week last year.

ALBUS: What? James!

Hee hee! So it sounds like maybe James is only one year ahead of Albus in school? Maybe had first year jitters of his own?

I had to admit, this last bit of the scene made me smile. Heading into the platform, Harry gives Albus this bit of advice.

HARRY: Best to do it at a run if you’re nervous.

That’s the same advice Mrs. Weasley gave him all those years ago! All the feels!

Scene 2 – Platform Nine and Three Quarters

They make it to the Platform, and all the children are suitably impressed. They also meet up with more familiar faces: Ron, Hermione and their daughter, Rose.

LILLY: Uncle Ron! Uncle Ron!

RON turns towards them as LILLY goes barreling up to him. He picks her up into his arms.

RON: If it isn’t my favorite Potter.

This is so cute! I have a feeling that Ron is a very good dad and uncle, in a silly bad-dad-joke sort of way.

There’s also this:

HARRY: Parked all right, then?

RON: I did. Hermione didn’t believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I’d have to Confund the examiner.

HERMIONE: I thought nothing of the kind, I have complete faith in you.

ROSE: And I have complete faith he did Confund the examiner.

Seems like Rose inherited some sass! I love it!

This scene is interesting because a lot of the dialogue is from the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, pretty much word for word. There’s more added to it, fleshing the scene out even more. For example, we see more of Albus’s fear that he will be sorted into Slytherin, but we also see Harry reassure him that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Harry tells him, just like in Deathly Hallows that he was named after a Slytherin, who was one of the bravest men that he had ever known, but that also, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.

Remembering back to The Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry was also terrified about being sorted into Slytherin and begged the Hat to put him anywhere else. I’ve often wondered, knowing what we know now, what would have happened if Harry had been sorted into Slytherin. Would he have ended up friends with Draco Malfoy? I can’t imagine that Harry would have participated in the bullying that seemed prevalent with that group, especially since he was bullied so much by his cousin. I just wonder how his relationship with Dumbledore would have been different, not to mention his relationship with Snape. Imagine if he had to have Snape as his Head of House! Would that have made Snape go a bit easier on him? Probably not, given Snape’s history, but you never know. Maybe Snape would have actually given Harry more of a chance. I’ve often wondered how different things would have been if Snape could have moved past his bitterness towards Harry’s father (which, of course, Harry had no control over) and actually been more of a mentor to Harry.

I’m sure there are fanfictions a plenty that speculate on this in greater detail. I’ve learned that when it comes to Harry Potter, there is a fanfiction about everything. Every. Thing. It’s a bit scary.

As the kids board the train to leave, Harry thinks for a moment that it’s odd that Albus is so scared about being sorted into Slytherin. Then there’s this moment.

RON: You know, Gin, we always thought there was a chance you could be sorted into Slytherin.

GINNY: What?

RON: Honestly, Fred and George ran a book.

My first reaction is laughter because this is really funny and totally something the twins would do. My second reaction is absolute devastation because FRED!!!! Pardon me while I go cry in the corner for a while. Seriously, worst death of the series. Worse than Dumbledore for me.

They get ready to leave, because people are looking – these are famous war heroes, after all.

GINNY: Harry . . . He’ll be all right, won’t he?

HARRY: Of course he will.

This makes me wonder why they are so concerned about Albus. Were they this worried about James when he left for Hogwarts the first time? I’m sure each kid is different, but maybe James was just more confident in a rough-and-tumble way. Maybe Albus is just the more quiet and sensitive of the two, which would make them worry more.

Scene 3 – The Hogwarts Express

We get to know Albus and Rose a bit more in this scene and, to be honest, I’m not sure I like Rose all that much. I want to like her. She’s Ron and Hermione’s daughter. I love Ron and Hermione is my spirit sister, so I should like their kid, right?

Eh.

We see in the previous seen that Rose is a bit ambitious (no idea where she got that from *cough*Hermione*cough*). She wants to score well in school and be a star on the Quidditch team.

But then there’s this:

ROSE: Al. We need to concentrate.

ALBUS: Concentrate on what?

ROSE: On who we choose to be friends with. My mum and dad met your dad on their first Hogwarts Express, you know . . .

ALBUS: So we need to choose now who to be friends with for life? That’s quite scary.

ROSE: On the contrary, it’s exciting. I’m a Granger-Weasley, you’re a Potter – everyone will want to be friends with us, we’ve got the pick of anyone we want.

Oh, Rose, Rose, Rose. I love how she assumes that because their parents all met on the train that that’s where they became friends. So not the case, sweetie. Your mum and dad may have met on the train, but they HATED each other. She has so much confidence and is just so smug about it. She knows everyone will want to be their friends because of their status and who their parents are. That sure doesn’t sound like Ron and Hermione. That sounds more like another peer of theirs back in the day . . .

Rose decides that they should check out all the compartments, rate all the occupants on whether or not they would be suitable friends, and then decide where to sit. Okay, I’m just calling it – Rose gets sorted into Slytherin. The ambition on this girl is astronomical!

The first compartment the open only has one occupant – a young kid who introduces himself as Scorpious. Albus doesn’t know who he is, but Rose recognizes him immediately. Scorpious seems like a nice kid, who offers them some of his candy stash because he mum told him that sharing candy would help him make friends. Aw! I feel bad for this kid already! Albus immediately takes him up on the offer, and immediately Rose starts hitting him to try and get him to leave with her. Unfortunately, her ambition does not come with any sort of stealth, because Scorpious notices immediately.

SCORPIOUS: She’s hitting you because of me.

Naturally, Albus doesn’t know what he’s talking about, because it’s crazy. Scorpious reveals that he knows exactly who Albus and Rose are and who their families are. He also reveals that he is the son of Astoria and Draco Malfoy.

Rose, being Rose, doesn’t want to talk about anything, but Scorpious is quick to say that “the rumor” is not true.

SCORPIOUS: The rumor is that my parents couldn’t have children. That my father and my grandfather were so desperate for a powerful heir, to prevent the end of the Malfoy line, that they . . . that they used a Time-Turner to send my mother back . . .

ALBUS: To send her back where?

ROSE: The rumor is that he’s Voldemort’s son, Albus.

A horrible, uncomfortable silence.

It’s probably rubbish. I mean . . . look, you’ve got a nose.

That last part made me laugh out loud, but seriously, this poor kid! Imagine starting school with that hanging over you! It’s terrible! I know that the pure bloods were very concerned with their family lines and, let’s face it, that does sound like something that Lucius might have considered if he found out Draco couldn’t produce an heir. I can’t imagine that Draco would go that far though. By the end of Deathly Hallows, Draco seemed pretty disillusioned with the whole Death Eater thing. Not to mention that he would have to live with the fact that he sent his wife back in time to . . . you know . . . EEWWWWW!!!!

Rose says that they should probably sit somewhere else, but Albus doesn’t want to go. She storms off in a bit of a huff, leaving Albus and Scorpious to share their sweets and start to become friends. It was cute. Reminiscent of Harry and Ron meeting on the train their first year, although some very clear differences, of course.

All right, for an opening, it’s definitely got my attention. And I have to admit, it feels good to be riding on the Hogwarts Express again! I’m going to try to update these every Friday, so check back next week to see the next bit! If you’ve read this, let me know what you thought of the first scenes!